“Why not?” asked Lady Mabel.

“In these troubled, sacrilegious times, the clergy think it best not to display the wealth of the church.”

“They would find it difficult to display any thing but tinsel,” said Cranfield.  “It is two years since the golden crucifix, the silver candlestick, and the saintly jewelry, mounted on horseback and traveled into France.”

“But the saints,” said L’Isle, “knowing that the air of France would not agree with them, wisely staid behind.”

As they were coming out of the cathedral, Mrs. Shortridge asked L’Isle the meaning of the words on a tablet near them:  “Oy se sacca animas.”

“They give us notice,” said L’Isle, “that to-day souls are released from Purgatory.  But surely the notice is incomplete, not specifying whose souls they are.  Their friends may go on spending money in masses for them after they are in Paradise.”

“That would be throwing away their cash,” said Mrs. Shortridge.  “I have known good folks in London exercise their charity by releasing small debtors from prison.  But their bounty bears little fruit, compared with that of the Papist, who, by opening his purse, rescues sinful souls from purgatory.  But our works, as our faith, fall far short of theirs.”

“And the Spaniards are foremost among the faithful,” said L’Isle.  “They are greedy of belief, even beyond what the church commands.  Thus the mysterious origin of the Holy Virgin, which once convulsed the Spanish church, is here no longer a disputed point.  It is the first article of their creed, as proved by their commonest term of salutation.  On entering a Spaniard’s house, you must begin with the words, ‘Ave Maria Purissima,’ to which will be answered, ’Sin pecado concebida.’  Smithfield fires could not burn this dogma out of them, and they would become schismatics if the rest of Popedom were not treading on their heels.  Yet to me this doctrine seems to sap the great Christian truth, that Christ is ‘God made man,’ for it pushes his human origin one generation further back.  Did Scripture tell the name of the mother of the blessed Virgin, the next age might discover that she too was ‘sin pecado concebida.’”

“Since I have been in this land,” said Mrs. Shortridge, “I have seen scarcely a street, or even a house, which is without an image or picture of the blessed Virgin, and the images are often crowned with flowers.”

“She is the goddess of these southern nations,” L’Isle answered; “and styled the Mother of God.  Moreover, every pious Spaniard regards the Virgin in the light of his friend, his confidante, his mistress, whose whole attention is directed to himself, and who is perpetually watching over his happiness.  With the name of Mary ever on his lips he follows his business, his pleasures, and his sins.  It is in the name, too, of Mary,” L’Isle continued, with an arch smile, “that the ladies write billetdoux, send their portraits, and entertain their gallants.”